Terrorist Organizations

NAME: Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade

DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: 2000

GOALS: Drive the Israeli military and people from the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem and establish a Palestinian state.

MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: At least five U.S. citizens have been killed in attacks, but probably not because of their citizenship. The group mainly targets Israeli military personnel and civilians.

STRENGTH: Unknown.

OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Mainly in the West Bank, but has also claimed responsibility for attacks inside Israel and the Gaza Strip.

AFFILIATIONS: Unknown.

COMMENTS: Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is composed of cells of Fatah-affiliated activists that emerged with the onset of the intifadah in 2000. In January 2002, an al-Aqsa member became the first female suicide bomber in the intifadah. The group was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) on March 27, 2002.

NAME: Red Hand Defenders (RHD)

DATE STARTED/FIRST ACTIVE: Late 1990s.

GOALS: Prevent a political settlement with Irish nationalists by attacking Catholic civilian interests in Northern Ireland.

MAIN ANTI-U.S. ACTIVITIES TO DATE: None.

STRENGTH: Up to 20 members.

OPERATIONAL LOCATIONS: Northern Ireland.

AFFILIATIONS: None.

COMMENTS: Extremist terrorist group composed largely of Protestant hardliners from other loyalist groups observing a cease-fire. RHD was quiet in 2000, following a damaging crackdown by security forces in late 1999. In prior years, the group has carried out numerous pipe bombings and arson attacks against "soft" civilian targets, such as homes, churches, and private businesses, to cause outrage in the republican community and to provoke IRA retaliation. NOT a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) but listed as "active" during 2000.